Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Week 32 - Ibarra, Ecuador - August 11, 2014

Mi Querida Famila,

This week was pretty miraculous! We found a new family, discovered that one couple we were teaching actually is married, had a really awesome tour, seen the fruits of service, and we have 2 investigators with baptismal dates. Pero ya mismo vienen mas!

First off: I will talk about Andreina. Andreina is one of our miracles this week, we were walking down a main road when I felt the urge to turn down a little road to the side. I saw a house at the end of the street and distinctly felt to go knock on the door. We went over knocked on the door, and out came Andreina. Andreina is from the coast, is 25 years old, and has listened to the missionaries 2 times before us. But this time she is progressing! She told us that she feels like God is sending her a message thorugh us so that she can be on the right path. She came to a ward activity 2 days after we found her, introduced us to her sister, Bilma who also is very prepared to receive the gospel as well. Bilma also accepted baptismal date along with Andreina. Bilma is 23 and has a 9 year old son, her husband is also very open to learn more but he works a lot so we just need ot find him! BIlma is also pregnant right now waiting on another little boy! Bilma and Andreina both came to a tour that we held on Saturday and stayedto see a baptismal service. They felt the spirit very strongly, and Andreina came to church the next day. Andreina keeps saying how she wants to go to the temple and serve a mission too. Bilma couldn´t come because her husbands work shift changed that day and she had to stay home to cook. But don´t worry, they both have real intent. And they practically begged us to come over to thier house to have lunch today.. So we did! And man... food from the coast is so much yummier than the food here in Ibarra. Back to the spiritual side... Andreina says that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if its true. She feels a new peace. Whahoo!

Second off: We were recently visiting the Familia Figeroa, a less active family that we were able to rescue last Sunday. They are the best. Usually when we visit them, Hermana Figeroa´s nephew is there too. He is not a member. But they always bring him to church on Sunday. Daniel Figeroa is 14 years old.. we gave him a book of Mormon last week and went to visit the familia figeroa yesterday. We decided to focus the lesson on faith, baptism, and repentance, for Daniel. In the end of the lesson, Daniel told us that he has been reading the book of Mormon and wants to be a member of the church. Miracles or what? We set a baptismal date for Daniel for the 23rd of August. He just needs one or two more charlas, a tour, and permission from his parents. The Familia Figeroa is very excited for Daniel!

This week we also have had some amazing experiences seeing the fruits of service. There is a family that we have been visiting aveces en cuando, when we have time because they haven´t really progressed, the Familia Fuertes.(Like the Strong Family but latin style) All this time we thought that the mom, Betty´s husband had died in Colombia and that she was a single Mom, wealso thought that were teaching a family friend, Pedro as well when we went to visit them. We actually found out on Saturday that they´ve been tricking us and Pedro really is married to Betty and that her husband really didn´t die in Columbia because obviously pedro is alive! Oh the Familia Fuertes… They´re a tricky bunch…. They also are a family of 6… (we fasted for a family of six on Sunday) Back to the frutis of service. We gained a lot of trust from Pedro and Betty this week because we visited them and they seemed a bit sad. So we just started to wash their dishes outside on the dish washing rock. This was special to them because they were all feeling a little sick. Then they gave us food (Colombian food.. which is super delicious) and we shared a message. The next lesson we had with them we found out that they read the book of Mormon and wanted to know more about baptism. We invited them to the baptism on Saturday and they came! Also I started teaching piano to Martha, their 9 year old daughter on Saturday. Martha is so cute!!!! We have gained a stronger bond with this family and they even came to church on Sunday. Ya mismo they will have a baptismal date. It makes me feel super great that many talents I developed before the mission are serving such a greater purpose out here in Ecuador. Like learning how to teach piano... Thanks Bridget!!

I would just like to end sharing my testimony that I know that this church is true, and I know that I am a disciple of Christ. I know that as a disciple we must always remember our purpose and the great love which Christ has for us. When things go well and even when they don´t we must always remember whose name we bear and whose life wefollow. We are disciples of Christ. We are latter day saints. And we must be obedient, and always search to have the holy ghost abundantly guide our lives. I know that we are being guided by the Holy Ghost as we strive to be obedient and filled with love for others. Amo ser misionera!